“I don’t think Emily is his type at all – she’s far too pale! But I don’t know, maybe he’s broadening his mind a bit.

“I don’t know what his game plan is, but he’s single and there’s a single girl in there, so he probably would go there and get it on in the jungle.”

Gorgeous Lucy dated Mark during the first series of TOWIE but they split up and since then have had a turbulent relationship. As a result Lucy is backing McFly bassist Dougie Poynter to win the show.

She admits: “I’m not friends with Mark now. I’ve cut off contact with him. I won’t be voting for him to win – I’m with Dougie all the way!”

The Brentwood babe also reckons Mark, 24, will tough it out in the gruelling jungle conditions because his super-competitive nature means he will never give up.

Lucy dated Mark during the first series of TOWIE

“Mark’s got a few fears – he’s scared of the dark,” says Lucy.

“I’m shocked at how much he’s actually coped with. He’s quite a foodie so I’m amazed he ate those bugs in the first week.

“If they end up without any food, I think he’ll find it tough, but he won’t want to lose so he’ll just keep going.” In the last episodes of the third series of TOWIE,

it emerged that Lucy had spent a night with Mark behind the back of her current boyfriend Mario Falcone, 23.

They split, but it looked like Lucy had managed to win back her man by making an emotional apology in front of the whole cast.

The final episode of the ITV2 show ended with teary Mark leaving the show to head for Oz and the jungle.

And it’s clear there’s still no love lost between Lucy and her ex Mark.

“He’ll do well in the jungle as what Mark wants is what he gets,” says Lucy.

“It’s like his leaving scene in TOWIE – they didn’t give Amy Childs one but Mark usually gets his way and he wanted it to be dramatic.

“That’s what it was and that’s exactly what I expected from him. Mario and I are not officially back together but we’re in contact and we’re getting there now.

“I’m hoping we sort things out before Christmas and we can spend some romantic time together then.

“He’s so lovely – I’d love to wake up with him on Christmas Day and for everything to be fine.”

Away from TOWIE, Lucy’s career is blossoming. Today she launches her own shop, Lucy’s Boutique, in – of course – Brentwood.

She is the latest TOWIE babe to go into retail after Lydia Bright, 20, opened her vintage store Bella Sorella, and the Faiers sisters set up their hugely-successful Minnie’s Boutique.

But former fashion worker Lucy isn’t worried about comparisons.

She says: “I worked in fashion for three years before I was in TOWIE and all through series one.

“This is something that I’ve always wanted to do, my dream. I’ve saved up enough money and I’m in the right position to do it, so I’m really lucky.

“I think people will compare it to the other girls’ shops, but I think all of our styles are completely different, and all of our shops will be completely different.

“A lot of it is aimed quite young as I know fans will come in, and I want to keep it affordable.

The TOWIE babe has launched her own shop, Lucy’s Boutique

“There’s party dresses and nice daywear, loads of lovely jewellery. The shop’s black and white, there’s mirrors everywhere and crystals. I will be working there as often as I can – I want to do as much as possible as it’s my baby.

“I want everyone who comes in to be able to leave with something.”

And what about Liverpool’s answer to TOWIE, Desperate Scousewives, which starts on E4 on Monday?

The Scousers have already sparked a war of words, pledging it will be bigger and better than TOWIE.

“I’m excited about it,” laughs Lucy. “I think it will be really good.

“Everyone wants to copy TOWIE don’t they? But we don’t need to worry about competition – we’re the original and the best!

“Liverpool’s got a reputation for being glamorous, but the difference is Essex girls love their hair extensions, make-up and eyelashes, then we take it off at the end of filming and are normal.